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Collecting the Bones, Collecting the Light

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August 09, 2016

"We all begin as a bundle of boneslost somewhere in the desert,a dismantled skeleton that lies under the sand.It is our work to recover the parts."-Clarissa Pinkola Estes

In her book Women Who Run With the Wolves Clarissa Pinkola Estes tells a story about a woman who collects bones from the wild. This woman, who calls herself La Loba (Wolf Woman), collects bones of animals until she has pieced together the full skeleton. The animals include deer, rattlesnake, crows, wolves, and more. Once La Loba has collected the entire skeleton she begins to sing over the bones until flesh forms, it becomes furred or feathered, then it runs or flies away, given new life.

This story feels significant for these times as many of us faithfully engage in our self-work of examining ourselves, our wounds, our gifts, what we have to heal, and what we have to offer. As we walk this path we make discoveries and have epiphanies that expand our awareness of our true selves and the work we are here to do. Each new discovery gently corralling us to our next, just like each new bone La Loba found gave her more clarity on which bones she was looking for next. We may not always see where we are headed or what we will make of our growing collection of experiences, skills, wisdom, and resources, but perhaps the reason we don't see it yet is because we don't yet have all the parts. La Loba first collected the bones, assembled the full skeleton, and sang it to life before the creature could reach it's potential. As we continue to collect our own metaphorical bones we grow closer to seeing our skeleton form. We grow closer to the time where we get to sing over the bones, singing what we are becoming and what we are creating into life.

May we draw on La Loba's diligence, patience, and persistence. May we inherit her trust that all the bones will be found and her faith that the skeleton will come back to life.

This Sunday, inspired by La Loba, we dance to collect light. Collect the Light of Truth. Collect the Guiding Light. Collect all the Light that illuminates who we are, what we have to offer, and what we have to gain as we piece together the skeleton, the structure, of what we are becoming. We can dance alone and/or we can dance together. I suggest both.

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